Xfce Forum

lemonTree

Member

Registered: 2021-08-24

Posts: 2

How to start a xfce session without starting X server?

I'm new to xfce.  I created a virtual machine (a Ubuntu VirtualBox) using vagrant.  Then I installed xfce to the vm so that I can have some GUI on the vm.  The very first time I logged on to the vm using its gui login box, I saw a small window open with light grey/blue pattern as the background and a top menu saying "Activities".  Clicking on "Activities" I will get a lifesaver image and 9 dots for different apps, such as terminal.  I then issued the command startxfce4 and my window became fullscreen and I saw the mouse image on the background with a lot more options on the screen.  That's the last time I was able to see the mouse image.  Later on when I start the vm (still using vagrant), if I login and do startxfce4, I will get an error message saying X server is already running.  I'm still able to get to the small window with "Activities" but never able to get the full xfce desktop with the mouse as the background. 

Anyone knows what I should do?

Skaperen

Member

From: right by Jesus, our Saviour

Registered: 2013-06-15

Posts: 862

Re: How to start a xfce session without starting X server?

can you do "ps awux|grep X" in the vm?  that should show if the X server is still running in there.  if it is, i don't really know a solution.  normally X tries to keep running.  the last time i ran X like that (a start command from a terminal) was more than 25 years ago and i can't remember how it was made to quit or if it even did.

lemonTree

Member

Registered: 2021-08-24

Posts: 2

Re: How to start a xfce session without starting X server?

Yes, I get a Xorg as a process.  So I know X server is definitely running.